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The Southeastern Conference announced on Tuesday that all conference and non-conference sporting events will be canceled for the remainder of the season due to the COVID-19 (Coronavirus) global pandemic concerns. This includes remaining 2019-20 SEC championships, scheduled regular season events, spring football games and SEC pro days.
“This is a difficult day for all of us, and I am especially disappointed for our student-athletes,” said SEC Commissioner Greg Sankey in a statement. “The health and well-being of our entire conference community is an ongoing priority for the SEC as we continue to monitor developments and information about the COVID-19 virus.”
All other activities, including but not limited to practices and meetings, will remain suspended through at least April 15th while the SEC continues to communicate with public health officials and medical experts to determine how to proceed beyond that date.
In the interim, SEC universities will continue to support student athletes with academics, medical care, mental health and wellness, nutrition and housing as needed.
The NCAA is planning to grant an extra season of eligibility to all student-athletes who have participated in spring sports this year, allowing seniors to return for 2020/2021 if he or she so chooses. Per the NCAA: ”Council leadership agreed that eligibility relief is appropriate for all Division I student-athletes who participated in spring sports.”
At Ole Miss, this sees the end of the 2020 baseball, softball, men’s and women’s golf, men’s and women’s tennis, and indoor and outdoor track regular and/or postseasons, as well as the women’s soccer spring season and football’s Grove Bowl.